NZRU still confident Maori will tour South Africa

New Zealand Rugby Union top-brass remain hopeful that the mooted New Zealand Maori clash against the world champion Springboks will go ahead.

The Maori side were expected to face the Springboks before the World Cup-holders launch their three-test series against the touring British Lions side in June.

However, the historic clash, set down for Soweto, is now up in the air with the South African Rugby Union's contentious President's Council looking to enforce a ban on South African teams playing other side's who are selected on racial grounds.

NZRU general manager professional rugby Neil Sorensen said a number of discussions on the possibility of a NZ Maori/Springbok match had been held with SA Rugby acting managing director Andy Marinos and were supported by Springboks coach Peter de Villiers.

"As we said in December, we have been working very hard to try and arrange a fixture for the New Zealand Maori team for this year and the Springboks match is the one we are currently pursuing," Sorensen said.

"Obviously, it would be fantastic for New Zealand Maori, the Springboks and their respective fans if the match took place but it is still early days and we know that there are a number of hurdles that need to be cleared if the match is to be confirmed."

Sorensen said the SA Rugby President's Council resolution which bans SA Rugby teams playing against teams selected along racial lines had not come up so far in the discussions between the NZRU and SA Rugby.

"That is obviously just one of the many things that SA Rugby will need to discuss internally but we obviously hope that the match will take place and will hold further talks with SA Rugby over the coming weeks," he said.

New Zealand Maori last toured South Africa in 1994, playing four matches against Vaal Triangle, Free State, Griqualand West and Eastern Province.

de Villiers said earlier this week he wanted his side to face the Maori team in the lead-up to this year's tour of South Africa by the British Lions.

However, SA Rugby has issued a statement overnight saying that while discussions had begun over the possible New Zealand Maori/Springbok clash, significant work behind the scenes still had to be done.

That included working around a political stand to not allow the Boks to play against racially-selected teams.

Ironically, race is one of the selection criteria for the World Cup-winning Boks, with an accepted number of non-white players having to be named in each squad.

"SA Rugby would like to advise media on the background to speculation that a match is being arranged against the New Zealand Maori," the statement read.

"We can confirm that the New Zealand Rugby Union has inquired if there was an opportunity for the Maori team to appear in South Africa.

"SA Rugby is examining the possibility but no decision has been taken on whether the offer will be accepted and there are several obstacles to overcome should we wish to pursue the offer.

"They include the financial viability of the project, logistics around venues and player availability and the fundamental stumbling block of a long-established President's Council resolution forbidding the appearance of SARU teams against opponents selected along racial lines.

"A final decision is not expected until the end of March."

The match would give New Zealand Maori a reprieve for this season.

The side looked set to be sidelined for 2009 after the NZRU cut them from its calendar as part of its cost-cutting moves.

New Zealand Maori won last year's Pacific Nations Cup.

They had previously taken part in the Churchill Cup, normally played in North America.